The web, marketing and registration at the Baby Show

[almostwitty]

When my friends found out I was going to the Baby Show, they commended me on making such a brave decision. Which seems odd – if I’m going to buy an Apple Mac, I’d think about going to the Apple Show. So surely deciding to go to a baby show – to give us a clue as to what lies in store for the next 15 years – is a no-brainer?

This turns out to have been not an altogether-wise decision. Silly us, we thought bringing up a child would be about meeting its basic needs, and ensuring it was loved and cared for. Oh no, apparently it was actually all about getting expensive and irrelevant nursery equipment, even more expensive buggies that are sold like cars (ie no price guides), and some frankly bizarre stands. Designer clothes for babies? Ensuring your child is circumcised by hiring the CircumSurgery?

There was a huge line to get a free Pampers plastic box. But in order to get it, you had to give your personal details to their marketing ladies. Top marks for getting us all to type it into a netbook instead of filling out bits of paper, but did we really need to give you answers to two random questions? It’s a nappy, not a bank!

There was also a stand promoting a website where dads could talk to dads. Why it needed four people to man it is another question entirely – but maybe one of them should have gotten some spell-checking skills. The website required me to register with an email address, whereupon I got a rather interesting email titled “RESPONCE REQUIRED”.

For a website that discusses fatherhood, it was also a bit disconcerting to find fatherhood 9th on the list of topics, and some boards not updated since late September. The board on jokes and current affairs, on the other hand, is alive and flourishing.

What other baby forums are there for fathers? Is there a DadsNet? Or should I just set up my own ?!

Mirrored from almost witty.

Comments

[bart-calendar.livejournal.com]

This is the Internet.

If it doesn't involve cats, porn, sports or bitching about how much men suck there is no active forum for the topic.

[almostwitty]

Unfortunately, I fear that parenting forums are the place where Internet users meet the mainstream "normal" people, who have never heard of pegging.

At the last election campaign, the leading UK mums' forum (mumsnet) essentially held an election debate online between all three party leaders.

[bart-calendar.livejournal.com]

Wait til you discover the mommy forums where they talk about the best ways to poke holes in condoms, drink tea that fucks with the pill, get your husband drunk so he forgets to put a condom on when their husband is balking at baby #2.

[almostwitty]

Remind me to check the wife's browsing history on the PC, would you? ;)

Although, really, if it happened again, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. The wife, on the other hand, may be thinking differently...

[bart-calendar.livejournal.com]

If you want to be really terrified join this community and start reading some entries.

http://community.livejournal.com/booju_newju/

[kiri-l.livejournal.com]

ok.. I read the first page of entries.. nothing seemed too out of place. Some of the questions / scenarios posed are a trifle out there but I suppose it sparks conversation.

what terrified you over there? *curious*

[bart-calendar.livejournal.com]

It's the comments that will drive you insane.

:D

[kiri-l.livejournal.com]

Oh hun. DO NOT go to a koffee klatch ere it is all mothers with young children. Alien encounter groups sound more sane.

[bijziend.livejournal.com]

OH GOD. I wouldn't take 3 steps into that forum. It's like the polar opposite of cf_hardcore, but with the *exact* same crazy quotient.

[kiri-l.livejournal.com]

eek.. I thought that wasn't mainstream.

[bijziend.livejournal.com]

I'm on my 29th week of vomiting. I've already told him if this kid acts up, I am shoving said kid up his penis - return to sender. I doubt we'll be going for #2. :P

[nikki-z.livejournal.com]

here is the thing you should do :
go on a mommy forum and post a controversial post about breastfeeding. it can be PRO (obligatory!) or CON (with some lame excuses).
sit back and enjoy.
there are hardly any 'normal' people online, I say. not even parents.

[nikki-z.livejournal.com]

hahah *LIKE!*